Learn To Be A Better Father

Fatherhood. For most single guys, it's one of those few things in life that strikes fear in our hearts. However, once we settle down with a wife and begin to "mature," as the opposite sex claims, we might begin having urges to continue the genetic line of our family. After all, having one's own child is the next best thing to being immortal. Who better to pass on all our knowledge and passions of life than to our own kid?

The only catch, though, is that we live in a reality that states that not everything will go our way. This is the major reason why most men are afraid to have kids; because of the huge responsibility of their upbringing and the fear of doing it all wrong. Well, don't worry guys; it's not all that bad. Follow these simple rules and you'll be on your way to discovering a whole new side to life with children.

rules of fatherhood

Rule #1: Use Reprimands

The word "discipline" comes from the Latin word "disciplina," which means "teaching." A father's job is to teach his children the advantages of self-discipline, not behave like the next Punisher. You can discipline your children so that they will want to behave themselves.

In return, both you and your child will begin to build a stronger relationship based on mutual respect. The first step in starting this learning process is to tell yourself the following: "When I discipline my children, I want them to feel bad about their misbehavior but good about themselves."

Many of us think that someone's behavior and the way they see themselves are one and the same. However, they are 2 completely different things. If you start to attack a child's behavior as though it were the same as his worth, then he will become defensive, and will naturally defend his behavior, even when he knows he's wrong.

Therefore, you must begin to realize the simplest truth — if you love your children, you feel 2 things: real anger and real love, so you need to verbalize both. You must show your emotions honestly to them, in order for them to feel what you feel. Let them know that you are angry or annoyed with their behavior. You want your children to do more than just know you are upset; you want them to feel it. Just like the famous Dr. Phil says on Oprah , "tell it like it is," and this will help them learn (we know you never watch Oprah , but these are words to live by).

Remember one important thing before giving the actual reprimand; your children are not punching bags. Do not go on and on about it. It doesn't take long to let someone know how you feel, and it will take less than a minute for him to understand your emotions. Then, make sure to pause... let the unpleasant silence hang in the air. This will definitely make your child uneasy and resentful.

However, this is a good thing. A reprimand should not be a pleasant experience, and this short pause of silence will make what's to come a bit more dramatic.